Long-ass lines in hospital waiting rooms for basic doctor’s visits, unless you go to a private hospital ($$$$) or you know someone who’s a doctor. Then you skip the line… which ofc makes things worse for people in line.

Basic things don’t cost as much though, but the main issue is access and not cost.

Yeah, East Asia will ally with Beijing when Beijing actually decides to see the rest of East Asia as equals and not just former tributary nations. (Believe me, I’m Chinese, this is unfortunately all too common a superiority complex that Chinese people have.)

It’s not that they want to be Westerners, it’s that they don’t want to be bullied by the regional superpower, and the other world superpower supports them in resisting Beijing.

this is pretty sad/hilarious. what did they think, the increased media attention would get someone to decide to apply to pilot their dangerous sub?